Filmmaker Hansal Mehta has dismissed the attitude of those sounding a death knell for Hindi cinema. He feels what it really needs is a "reset".
In a long post on his 'X' handle, the Scam 1992 and Aligarh director said "the industry isn't dying" but "waiting to be disrupted."
"The problem isn’t the audience losing interest. It’s that investment is being funnelled into the safe, the recycled, the formulaic," he wrote, adding that the industry's future is dependent on "raw talent, bold storytelling, and directors who can take a script and direct the hell out of it."
"The past few years have proved: that stars don’t necessarily bring audiences; conviction does. A new generation of actors, filmmakers, and writers is ready to change the game. But it will take producers with vision, platforms that backstories over statistics, and directors who demand authenticity over-familiarity. It will need solid financial discipline, intelligent exhibition strategy, and well-thought-out marketing, not the template paid publicity that is making publicists rich and the industry much poorer."
Mehta, who recently directed The Buckingham Murders with Kareena Kapoor, listed out the names of some male actors (the names of female actors, directors and writers to be revealed later) who he thinks would be apt to work with, provided the material is serious enough to do justice to the above actors.
"Talent that needs faith, not second-guessing—because if nurtured right, they’re the future," he said.
The following is the list of actors Hansal mentioned along with his reasons for backing them:
Adarsh Gourav – The Shape-Shifter
"From The White Tiger (BAFTA-nominated) to Guns & Gulaabs to Kho Gaye Hum Kahaan to the lovely Superboys of Malegaon, Adarsh is an actor who disappears into roles. He’s not a star; he’s a chameleon. Hollywood is already betting on him (Alien TV series). Bollywood needs to wake up and match that faith. This guy is a lambi race ka ghoda. Mark my words."
Vedang Raina – The Screen-Stealer
"The Archies was just the intro. In Jigra, he showed presence that felt effortless, assured, and natural. If given scripts that challenge him, he has the potential to break out as a serious leading man."
Ishaan Khatter – The Untapped Dynamo
"From his debut in Dhadak to Beyond the Clouds to A Suitable Boy to Pippa to being an object of lust in The Perfect Couple, Ishaan has proved he’s capable of far more than his filmography suggests. His energy is rare. His instincts are sharp. He needs scripts and directors who push him—not just projects that play it safe."
Zahan Kapoor – The Breakthrough Name
"In Faraaz, he showed restraint and maturity that felt rare for such a young first-timer. Then came Black Warrant, which cemented him as a name to watch. He has depth, sincerity, and a hunger to go beyond the obvious."
Aditya Rawal – The Disruptor
"Bamfaad showed rawness. Faraaz won him a Filmfare. Bambai Meri Jaan proved he can command a screen presence even in an ensemble. He is not looking for stardom—he’s looking for roles. And that’s exactly why he’ll go far if directors recognize that hunger."
Sparsh Shrivastava – The Silent Revolution
"From Jamtara to Laapataa Ladies, Sparsh has mastered the art of playing characters who feel lived-in and real. The industry keeps talking about “relatable actors.” Sparsh is already that. He needs projects that match his range."
Abhay Verma – The Wildcard
"The audience loved him in Munjya, turning a horror-comedy into a sleeper hit. But his range was already on display in The Family Man 2 and Safed. If platforms and producers truly invest in him, he has the potential to become a leading man with mass and craft."
Lakshya – The Relentless Fighter
"Lakshya stormed into cinema with Kill, a raw, unhinged performance that had the intensity of a seasoned action star. There’s a hunger in his eyes, a willingness to go beyond mere presence and truly fight for a part—both physically and emotionally. If the right filmmakers put their faith in him, he could be Hindi cinema’s next great action disruptor."
Raghav Juyal – The Unpredictable Wildcard
"Raghav Juyal is not just a dancer, not just a comic, not just an actor—he’s instinct personified. In Kill, he was terrifyingly unpredictable and showed potential that went beyond dancing. He’s the kind of actor who, if given the space, will surprise us again and again. Hindi cinema needs to take more chances on actors like him—because when they deliver, they create magic."
Mehta feels the missing pieces are, "Faith, investment, and patience" and that producers need to "think long-term" instead of "chasing weekend box office numbers and start building talent that will bring audiences back for years."
Additionally, he suggested that platforms that already have the data should have some faith in talent and start backing "actors, not algorithms."
He also asked directors to cast actors for "the role, the skill, the depth" instead of "familiarity" aside from writing without fear and directing with conviction. "The audience is hungry for authentic, lived-in performances. The formula is simple: invest in actors, not 'stars',” he concluded.
